What do you choose to order when you go to your favorite restaurant?

[BuffaloBill]

Choosing what you will eat is a very personal choice. It may depend on your mood, your cravings, your budget and a myriad of other factors.  How do you handle the order at your favorite place?

 

I tend to order the same thing.  However, this is not always the case, as I will listen to the specials and sometime order one.  It may also depend on where I am as “favorites” are often different by city.  I used to travel a lot for business and I would often seek out unique ethnic places in the city I was in.  For example I had a favorite Peking duck place in Vancouver.  I might not order Peking duck elsewhere.

 

There is a whole science to how people order and how restaurants construct their menus.  How does this play into your ordering game?  

[Punching Bag]

My favorite restaurant is a Chinese Cantonese one, Mark's Duck House, and we go there only for Dim Sum for lunch.  This is a restaurant which still has the ladies (it used to be mostly younger girls) bring carts around to each table.  Somethings we order each time - 2 or 3 plates of Shrimp Noodle Crepe (my daughter's favorite) 2 plates of Bean Sheet Roll (my favorite), some chicken feet (my wife's), Baked Roast Pork Bun Char Siu Bao, sticky rice, etc. and then whatever suits our fancy depending on how hungry we are.  

 

One issue with restaurant is a number of my wife's friends and women who she manages works there during weekend and they will insist on giving her extra stuff to go which makes my wife uncomfortable.  The owner also keeps wanting my wife to work there on weekends which she has no interest in doing or at least not until she retires from her full time job.

[BillsPride12]

Gotta switch it up.  But I'm also a foodie that loves trying different things.  Variety is the spice of life.  

[Johnny Hammersticks]

My wife and I rarely go out to eat, but when we do we usually go to the same restaurant.  Our favorite place called The Foundry up near Killington.  My go-to is the chicken marsala and a double order of the duck fat fried french fries (which are amazing).  
 

It’s just so delicious and I know I’m going to have a good meal.  Every time I try something different I’m always disappointed.  I’m a creature of habit I suppose.

[muppy]

my favorite restaurant is called Stir Fresh. It is a mongolian BBQ restaurant. Basically a buffet line of protein choices (about 10) then fresh vegetables (about 20) then boiled noodles, then the all important sauces (again about 10) assorted dry spices like garlic, chili flakes, and sesame seeds at the very end. soy sauce or siracha on the side

 

You fill 1 bowl with sauces the other much larger bowl with the rest, and you hand it to the cook who works in front of an approx 6 foot circular flat metal  grill, where they walk around it in circles stir frying your items into your own custom plate. Then you are served rice and a flat sesame type pocket flat bread which is to Die for.

 

I have my recipe down to a science it is perfection.I always put raw shredded carrots, green onions and fresh cilantro at the end so it doesnt get mushy but will blend with the rest of the super hot food.

 

DELICIOSO

 

I have been to a few inferior Mongolian BBQ's. I would google to see which may be the best in your area if it is available.  Much better if they specialize in it and nothing else. 

Edited November 19, 2023 by muppy

[Simon]

When we go to our favorite restaurant I always get a Happy Meal with a Grimace Shake. 

[Augie]

I have my regular lunch places and I tend to have my favorite items at each place. One place for a Cobb salad, one for a Caesar salad. I get the same two tacos and cucumber salad at another place.  I am often asked “do you even want a menu?” I’m a creature of habit, and I know what I like. I chose my dish when I chose my destination. 

 

If we go out for dinner it will almost always be fish, but I like to hear the specials. I am NOT shy about asking how much the special is after learning my lesson the hard way. We were at a tourist trap at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco 25+ years ago and I ordered the delicious sounding seafood special. When the bill arrived I learned that my dinner alone was about $85, and this is a quarter century ago. I am the fool if I am too lazy or shy to ask now. 

 

Speaking of specials, I think it was Anthony Bourdain who warned that they are often made of things the chef needs to get rid of as it’s been sitting around longer than ideal. 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

'The Works' burger chain, I always ordered an 'Olive Oyl' burger.

 

South Coast Cookhouse in Crystal Beach always saw me ordering a South Coast burger, washed down with a couple of bottles of Molson Stock ale.  Even after they took the South Coast off the printed menu, chef would always be able to make one.  Sautéed onions over a burger; that's it.

 

Minor Fisheries in Port Colborne always sees me ordering a 'Lake Erie Combo'.  Perch and pickerel.

 

Once something works, I rarely change.

[SinceThe70s]

1 hour ago, Johnny Hammersticks said:

My wife and I rarely go out to eat, but when we do we usually go to the same restaurant.  Our favorite place called The Foundry up near Killington.  My go-to is the chicken marsala and a double order of the duck fat fried french fries (which are amazing).  
 

It’s just so delicious and I know I’m going to have a good meal.  Every time I try something different I’m always disappointed.  I’m a creature of habit I suppose.

 

That's the old Grist Mil, right? Grist Mill used to be a must visit for playoff hockey and Goombay Smashes after a day of spring skiing. Haven't been there since they changed to the Foundry.

[Johnny Hammersticks]

33 minutes ago, SinceThe70s said:

 

That's the old Grist Mil, right? Grist Mill used to be a must visit for playoff hockey and Goombay Smashes after a day of spring skiing. Haven't been there since they changed to the Foundry.

I’m not sure.  We’ve been here for 10 years and it’s always been called The Foundry.  It is a big, two floor brown building with a pond in front and a big water mill.  They’ve changed ownership twice, but the quality has maintained.  Expensive because of where it’s located but pretty good food.  Restaurants up on the mountain usually change ownership/names every few years.  😂 

[sherpa]

4 hours ago, muppy said:

my favorite restaurant is called Stir Fresh. It is a mongolian BBQ restaurant. 

 

If we had a Mongolian BBQ option here, it would be my auto go to.

Back in my Navy days, the Cubi Pt. (Philippines) Officer's Club had Mongolian every Wed.

It was the best.

[qwksilver]

Our favorite restaurant called Cafe Vico, in FT Lauderdale. It has the best Chicken Parm I've ever had. But then I took my brother and his wife when they were visiting and he had their seafood spaghetti. It is amazing. I have not had anything else in that restaurant since. We have taken others there and the reviews of the menu items are great but I found "my dish" and I won't be trying anything else there. 

 

I do have other restaurants where I have a few choices. Maybe poll should have "it depends on the restaurant" option.

[Fr. Jerk]

Sea food all d*mn day, ya smell me?

[ExiledInIllinois]

What if it's your favorite restaurant and you're there twice in two consecutive nights?  Do the 9 people above order the same thing?

 

Thoughts from @Gugny 😉 

[Not at the table Karlos]

Same thing. They prob do it well or I wouldn’t be coming back. I’d never order the special. It’s usually something they’re trying to get rid of for whatever reason. 

[Gugny]

1 hour ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

What if it's your favorite restaurant and you're there twice in two consecutive nights?  Do the 9 people above order the same thing?

 

Thoughts from @Gugny 😉 

Talk of the Town is far from my favorite restaurant. 
 

Above, I chose that I switch it up when I go out. 
 

I don’t really have a favorite restaurant. 
 

We don’t go out to dinner very often, but we do lunch on most weekends. 
 

We like trying differ t places, but do sometimes frequent a handful of places.  
 

One is a diner up in Warrensburg (Luck-E Star). 
 

When we went there for the first time, we got hot dogs. They were phenomenal. We’ve been there a couple more times and have still only had this hot dogs. 

[Tony P]

Kind of a different take here as we don't actually have one favorite restaurant. Rather, we have favorite dishes that only certain restaurants do great.

 

For example, if we're in the mood for 'za, we go to a particular pizzeria. If in the mood for lamb chops, only one place to go for us. Burger tonight (?), we know exactly where to go to satisfy that urge.

 

So in a roundabout way, I guess my answer would be "always order the same thing" since we generally go to that restaurant for a particular dish.

Edited November 20, 2023 by Tony P
correct typo

[BuffaloBill]

3 hours ago, Fr. Jerk said:

Sea food all d*mn day, ya smell me?

 

We thought it was your British inclination towards baked beans that was the problem….

[Fr. Jerk]

Cash me outside, how bout dat?

[Mike in Horseheads]

On 11/20/2023 at 11:58 AM, Gugny said:

Talk of the Town is far from my favorite restaurant. 
 

Above, I chose that I switch it up when I go out. 
 

I don’t really have a favorite restaurant. 
 

We don’t go out to dinner very often, but we do lunch on most weekends. 
 

We like trying differ t places, but do sometimes frequent a handful of places.  
 

One is a diner up in Warrensburg (Luck-E Star). 
 

When we went there for the first time, we got hot dogs. They were phenomenal. We’ve been there a couple more times and have still only had this hot dogs. 

Why are you double spacing after every sentence?

[Buffalo716]

1 hour ago, Mike in Horseheads said:

Why are you double spacing after every sentence?

It does make it easier to read

[Nextmanup]

A good restaurant shouldn't have the same thing you order every time you go.

 

They should be routinely coming up with new menus.

 

They should also nightly offer a specials list, which is usually the best stuff in the house and what you should be ordering.

 

 

[BuffaloBill]

7 hours ago, Mike in Horseheads said:

Why are you double spacing after every sentence?

 

 

This is a regular quarrel between the wife and me. I was taught to do this back in the stone ages when you learned to type on an ancient manual typewriter. It’s sadly muscle memory for me. Sadly, I have to admit I am wrong.

[EmotionallyUnstable]

We don’t go out often for a variety of reasons. When we do, the destination generally depends on attendees. If it’s just the wife and I, we generally stick to the same 3-4 local joints that are reliable. 
 

My order typically changes. I don’t know if it’s aging or lack of brain cells from my playing days, but I rarely remember what I ordered the previous time at a restaurant. 
 

For me, going out to eat is 75% about the experience of being waited on with no dishes after. 

[John from Riverside]

I’m usually a steak or barbecue guy when I go out and I tend to stick to those things

[Teddy KGB]

On 11/19/2023 at 10:01 AM, Johnny Hammersticks said:

My wife and I rarely go out to eat, but when we do we usually go to the same restaurant.  Our favorite place called The Foundry up near Killington.  My go-to is the chicken marsala and a double order of the duck fat fried french fries (which are amazing).  
 

It’s just so delicious and I know I’m going to have a good meal.  Every time I try something different I’m always disappointed.  I’m a creature of habit I suppose.

I too go for the chicken marsala but at Razzo in Norfolk Va.    comes with garlic and olive oil angel hair with breadcrumbs though 

 

I got the white lasagna once because I saw it won an award and it is amazing as well. But it’s their chicken Marsala all day.    I don’t care for it elsewhere, never sweet enough 

 

Mongolian BBQ/Hot dogs as favorite restaurant takes above are wild 

 

I like both of the above but come on guys 😝

Edited November 25, 2023 by Teddy KGB

[dickleyjones]

I want something i can't make for myself. Lobster, steak, all that good stuff i can do myself

 

High quality sushi my #1 choice

Dim sum #2

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

Every time I mix it up at my favorite places, I regret it. Every time. 

[Just Jack]

I have to remind the wife to tell me not to order my first choice. For some reason, anytime I order my first choice at a restaurant, I'm disappointed and should have ordered my second choice.  

 

When I worked at a casino about 10 years ago, I printed out the snack bar/cafe menu, and each day tried something different, and kept track of what I liked and did not like, till I had gone through the entire menu.  When I worked there, they had more items, like a turkey burger and taco salad I remember.  Those were actually two of my favorites.  

[Joe Ferguson forever]

Usually seafood.  my dad always ordered "Danish Danties" lobster tails at the old Clarkson house.  never see those on a menu now

[Punching Bag]

There used to be a restaurant which was our favorite.

They had a catfish and shrimp bowl which was our favorite and even when it was off the menu we were able to order it.

One waitress insisted they do not sell it and we told her told manager and said they do.  I guess if you have ingredients no reason not to.

The local branch has closed and when we tried one of others they did not have even asking manager; maybe it was cook's idea.

[SinceThe70s]

My favorite restaurants are the ones where I have no reluctance ordering something different off the menu. I also have restaurants where I pretty much order the same thing every time.

 

As a general rule, any time I see short rib, swordfish or (local caught) striped bass it's a safe bet that's what I'll order.